S – Those who passed by were yelling insults at him, shaking their heads, and saying, “Ha! The one who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, ³⁰ save yourself by coming down from the cross!” ³¹ In the same way, the chief priests with the scribes were mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others, but he cannot save himself!

Mark 15:29–31 CSB

O – First, interesting note about “shaking their heads.”  It fulfills a prophecy in Psalms –

• Psalm 22:7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, 

Also, using Jesus’ own words to mock him, the crowd jeers that he saved others but couldn’t save himself.  The Messiah, being God, should be able to do that. 

A – In hindsight, we know Jesus could save himself. 

 “Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 “How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?”

 Matt 26:52–54 NASB

Here is the great part.  Jesus could not save himself.  If he saved himself, he could not save you and I.  His whole purpose was to be the sacrifice and shed his blood for us.  The words “save yourself” was another way the enemy was trying to alter “the plan.” (Ex. Temptations in the wilderness). 

R – Lord, thank you for giving your body and blood for me today.  Let me be the man of God you called me to be.  Let me honor your sacrifice in a way that honors you.

S – “But you, be on your guard! They will hand you over to local courts,^, and you will be flogged in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them. ¹⁰ And it is necessary that the gospel be preached to all nations. ¹¹ So when they arrest you and hand you over, don’t worry beforehand what you will say, but say whatever is given to you at that time, for it isn’t you speaking, but the Holy Spirit

 Mark 13:9–11 CSB

O –  Lot of strong principles in these verses:

• We need to be observant of all that is happening in the physical and spiritual realms.
• There will be persecution for your relationship with Christ. 
• You will gain access to groups of people and leaders because of it.
• Your message is salvation comes through Jesus.
• Your message will be given to you by the Holy Spirit at that time.

A – Same principles – a different version of them today.  There is a spiritual battle going on every day. Persecution comes in different forms and we aren’t flogging people today.  But the message of Christ is challenged and we have the opportunity to share our faith through the Holy Spirit.

R – Lord, help me to see clearly all that is going on today.  Give me your insights and words by the Holy Spirit, no matter what difficulty or challenge I encounter.

S – They were looking for a way to arrest him but feared the crowd because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. So they left him and went away. 

Mark 12:12 CSB

O – This is the first time in Mark when Jesus’ parable is understood by the religious leaders.  It caused them to want to arrest Jesus, fear the people they served and move in a direction away from their purpose.

A – Recently, Kristin shared about the principle of Pride and Fear.  It is playing out here.  The pride of the religious leaders was accused by Jesus in this parable.  It caused them to fear.  The results were totally opposite of good leadership and intimacy with God.

R – Lord, help me to walk in humility and confidence that eliminates fear and pride.  Let me walk in the purpose you have for me, serving others by leading according to your will.

S – He was teaching them: “Is it not written, My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves!”^, 

 Mark 11:17 CSB

O – Jesus just finished throwing out the “money changers” out of the Temple from the court of the Gentiles. 

Commentary: 

Jesus’ daring action captured peoples’ attention and He taught (lit., “began teaching”) them about God’s purpose for the temple. Using a question expecting a positive answer, He appealed to Old Testament authority for His action (quoting Isa. 56:7b verbatim).

Only Mark extended the quotation from Isaiah to include the words for all nations. God desired that both Gentiles and Jews use the temple as a place of worship (cf. John 12:20). This was especially relevant to Mark’s readers in Rome.

By contrast, you (emphatic), the insensitive Jews, have made it, the court of the Gentiles, a den of robbers. It was a refuge for fraudulent traders (cf. Jer. 7:11) instead of a house of prayer

“Mark,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

O – Even in his anger, Jesus is laying more foundation for God’s plan for Jews and Gentiles to worship together.  Such a great detail.

R- Lord, thank you for being so Big, and yet you are intimate in the details of my life.  Also, continue to value all people, even those who are not like me.

S – Peter began to tell him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.

 Mark 10:28 CSB

O – Commentary: The disciples had done what Jesus told the rich man to do—they had given up everything to follow Jesus.

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

A – The disciples did everything asked of the rich man and Jesus is saying how hard it is to get into heaven.  It comes down to trust.  Do you trust that Jesus is Savior, Lord and that God is who He says He is?  You can’t go halfway in – it is a life decision.

R – Lord, let me demonstrate my love for you in a genuine, committed way that leaves no doubt about my trust and reliance on you.

S – Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’? Everything is possible for the one who believes.” 

Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!” 

Mark 9:23–24 CSB

O – Commentary:  Perhaps the first lesson for us in this story is that God does not demand perfect faith in people. We do believe. But we still need help for our unbelief. Jesus accepts even imperfect faith and generously works His miracles in our lives. As we continue to grow in our relationships with Him, He does indeed “help our unbelief,” gradually replacing it with a more perfect trust in Him.

But there is another lesson as well. The disciples who had been unable to help were troubled by their powerlessness. Afterward, they asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

Jesus answered, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

For the challenges of our lives as Jesus’ disciples, we must rely, not on our own strength, but completely on God’s. And we express that dependence most perfectly in prayer.

  The Teacher’s Commentary 

A – The Commentary nailed it.  God doesn’t demand perfect faith.  He desires a growing faith.  One fighting the tension of belief and trust.  The way to grow faith is to grow relationships.  The more you know someone, the more you trust them.  Prayer and being in God’s presence (The Word, worship and inviting the Holy Spirit into your day) is so important.

R – Lord, continue to grow my faith by spending time with you throughout today.  Let my belief develop into a deeper faith and trust in you.

S – Nothing that goes into a person from outside can defile him but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”  

Mark 7:15 CSB

O – Commentary: It concerns moral distinctions about eating. Eating affects the digestive system, but moral issues involve the heart. The heart is a metaphor for the seat of moral decision-making. How a person eats (with clean or unclean hands) or what a person eats (clean or unclean food) affects only the digestive tract, so it has no bearing on the moral issues of the soul.

 New Living Translation Study Bible

A – Jesus is doing a couple of things.  He is giving plain instructions on how to view eating.  At the same time, he is defying Jewish laws that had been in play for hundreds of years. He is challenging the culture.  Finally, he is aligning with Gentile beliefs which are building a bridge to people the Jewish nation would not be in a relationship with.

R – Lord, help me to see people, situations and decisions with your eyes.  Help me to move beyond what I know and familiar to what is your heart and will. 

S – When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. “Where did this man get these things?” they said. “What is this wisdom that has been given to him, and how are these miracles performed by his hands? ³ Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?” So they were offended by him. 

Mark 6:2–3 CSB

O – When people become familiar, we lessen their value. In relationship, the norm can override their ability to be great.  Those who grew up with or knew of Jesus as he grew up and lived are baffled by his wisdom and power.  More over, they were offended – (from skandalizomai, “to be caused to stumble, to be repelled”;  finding no reason to believe He was God’s Anointed One.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures,

A – I can do this so easily.  I can say “I know that guy.”  In doing so, believe less of him or what God is doing in his life.  It is better to believe the best and let God do what He needs to in that person’s life.  It is not my job to judge.  Yet, as a leader, you need to be led by the Spirit to know truth vs false naratives.

R – Lord, I ask the Holy Spirit to lead me to see the truth in people and situations so I can believe your best in each.

S – Immediately Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?”…The woman, with fear and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. ³⁴ “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be healed from your affliction.” 

Mark 5:30, 33-34 CSB

O – The healing power of God went out from Jesus.  He asks, “Who touched me?” to find out who the person was.  Since he controlled the power of God in Him, I believe he released healing willingly according to the woman’s faith.  He sought her out, not to embarass or chastise her.  He sought her out so this “exile” could be restored with the title of “Daughter.” 

A – God waits on our faith to do the things only He can do.  It causes us to grow in greater relational intimacy and strength.

R – Lord, let my desire for you and your presence remind me to believe beyond the present.  Let it always draw me back to my relationship with you.